Highway traffic post



June 16, 1942. A. 1 HAlNEs HIGHWAY TRAFFIC Postr l Filed Jan. 27, 1941A. f /l/vfffs Patente-cl `Furie 16, 1942 UNITED" STATES 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a sign post.

More particularly, the invention is used to hold highway markers, which,as is well known, are subjected to a great deal of abuse, as when avehicle collides with a marker, for instance.

The objects of the invention, generally, are the improve on known signposts, especially posts holding highway markers.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a strong but flexiblesign post, especially a post for holding a highway marker. Should avehicle collide with the post, it will give or yield to impact, but willnot be damaged thereby, and will later assume its normal or uprightposition.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the various figures,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, part section, part elevation of a sign postmade in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the post when flexed out ofnormal upright position, as when it is being run over by the wheel of aVehicle,

Referring now by numerals to the drawing, I

is a pipe section, preferably of metal, which is` suitably anchored inthe ground G. Il is a second pipe section, also preferably of metal,spaced from the pipe section lll. The upper end of the pipe section ilmay be attened as at i2, the iiattened portion having apertures I 3adapted to receive bolts or the like by which a sign, marker, or thelike may be fastened to the upper end of the pipe section il. Thesections l0 and Il are operatively connected together to form the postcomplete, by a flexible coupling or connection which may take, as shown,the form of a helical spring M. The opposite ends of the spring areformed with loops or eyes I5, each adapted to receive a rivet bolt orthe like I6, passed through the pipe section It or Il, as the case maybe, to thus secure such end of the spring to its associated pipesection.

As best shown in Figure 1, the rivets I6 are f positioned some distancefrom the adjacent ends of the pipe sections, respectively, so that anumber of coils of the spring will be housed within the pipe section il)or Il, as the case may be.

Thus, the upper or second pipe section Il will c normally be held in anupright position in alignment with the lower or base pipe section lli.but will be capable of being bodily moved out of alignment as the springcoupling yields.

As shown, a number of rings Il, also preferably of metal, are used tofill the gap or intervening space between the adjacent ends of the pipesections I!) and Il, to thus normally shield or cover that portion ofthe spring which lies between such ends. their size or height, are suchthat when they are in operative position as shown, the spring will beunder tension. The rings will therefore engage one another in superposedrelationship, and the upper pipe section ll and rings Il will be held intheir intended vertical position in alignment with thelower pipe sectionle. The outside or over-all diameter of the spring is preferably suchthat the Aspring will be slightly compressed when in operative positionwithin the pipe sections and rings, so that the spring will tightlyengage the wall of such sections and rings.

It will be seen that while the pipe section H will normally be held inupright or vertical position in alignment with the pipe section Ill, thesection Il will be capable of being bodily turned out of alignment asthe portion of the spring lying between the adjacent ends of thesections yields or flexes. Thus, any vehicle colliding with the pipesection Il or the sign secured thereto, will cause the pipe section Ilto bodily move out of alignment. When released, this pipe section willagain be brought back to its normal or vertical position by the actionof the spring.

In practice, the rings will only extend a short distance from theground, and the distance between the ground and the top of the sectionIl will be taken mostly by this pipe section.

I claim:

1. A supporting post assembly comprising a series of superimposed hollowmetallic sections including a base section, an intermediate section andan upper section, said upper section having an enlarged solid flat-facedhead portion adapted for attachment of a sign or like indicator theretoand having a hollow shank portion, said shank portion having meansextended therethrough for anchoring therewithin one end of an elongatedspiral spring element, said base section adapted to be embedded in theground or other supporting surface and having extended therethrough ananchoring means for the other end of said spring element, and anelongated spiral spring elem'ent extending through said series ofsections and into said upper and base sections in abutting relationthereto, the ends of said element being anchored respectively within andto said upper and base sections by said anchoring means, each spiraladjacent a line of division between sections contacting two ad- Thenumber of rings, andA jacent sections to thereby maintain the sectionsin axial alignment.

2. The invention as set forth in claim l wherein the spring element hasan eye at each end thereof through which the anchoring means extends forsecuring said `element to said upper and base sections respectively.

3. A supporting post assembly comprising a series of superimposedaxially aligned hollow metallic sections including a head section,anintermeddiate section and a base section, an elon- 10 tions in axialalignment.

gated spiral spring element for extension through said sections and intosaid upper and said base sections, th'e said latter sections beingformed with hollow receiving chambers for the ends of said element, andmeans for anchoring said element to said respective sections, eachspiral of said spring element adjacent a line of division betweensections contacting two adjacent sections and thereby maintaining theseveral sec- A. J. HAINES.

